A real-time, global system and method for controlling payments risk, liquidity risk and systemic risk arising between financial counterparties active in payments-based transactions. The system comprises: a plurality of User Host Applications for use by plurality of Users; a plurality of Third Party Host Applications for use by plurality of Third Parties; and a plurality of Payment Bank Host Applications for use by a plurality of Payment Banks operating a plurality of domestic payment systems. All host applications communicate via cryptographically secure sessions via private communications networks and/or the Internet global computer network. User and Payment Bank access is secured by digital certification. Each Payment Bank Host Application has a mechanism for processing payment messages, including payments instructions to be carried out in its domestic payments system on behalf of a plurality of account holders (including bank correspondents). In addition, each Payment Bank Host Application includes a filter process module for processing payments instructions, prior to being carried out by the domestic payment system. In the event of a counterparty payment failure or insolvency, the Filter Process Module enables instantaneous, automated suspension of all further payments to the counterparty in a multiplicity of chosen currencies. The reduction in payments risk and liquidity risk to predetermined tolerances reduces the likelihood of contingent defaults in the event of payment failure due to bank insolvency or other unforeseen event, and thereby reduces systemic risk to the global financial system.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of reducing payments risk, liquidity risk, and systemic risk associated with payments-based transactions, in a system supporting a plurality of third party host applications, a plurality of user host applications, and a plurality of payment bank host applications running on a communications network, wherein said plurality of user host applications are supported over said communications network for use by plurality of users active in payments-based transactions, wherein said plurality of third party host applications are supported over said communications network for use by plurality of third parties active in payments-based transactions, wherein said plurality of payment bank host applications are supported over said communications network for use by a plurality of payment banks operating a plurality of domestic payment systems, and wherein each said payment bank host application has a filter process module for processing payments instructions, said method comprising the steps: (a) said third parties sending counterparty payments risk data associated with a plurality of payments-based transactions, to said user host applications; (b) said users sending counterparty payments risk data on behalf of themselves and said third parties to said system, wherein said payments risk data specifies transaction parameters selected from the group consisting of (i) said user associated with each said payments-based transaction, (ii) said third party associated with each said payments-based transaction, (iii) said payment bank associated with each said payments-based transaction, (iv) an intermediary(ies) in the chain of accounts leading to the counterparty or ultimate payment beneficiary, (v) a counterparty associated with each said payments-based transaction, (vi) a currency associated with each said payments-based transaction, (vii) a payment type associated with each said payments-based transaction, (viii) a Transaction Reference Number unique to each payments-based transaction, and (ix) a clean payment limit associated with each said payments-based transaction; (c) said system analyzing the payments risk data associated with each said payments-based transaction and decomposing said payments risk data into files for transfer to said payment bank host applications for making payments on behalf of said users in a plurality of currencies; (d) said system transmitting said payments risk data, associated with each said payments-based transaction, to said payment bank host applications, using application-to-application automated interfaces; and (e) each said payment bank host application applying said payments risk data, as input parameters, to said filter process module for automated evaluation of payments instructions in respect of accounts of said users such that payments instructions breaching said input parameters to said filter process module are rejected back to a payments processing queue for later re-evaluation in the absence of an override instruction.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each third party, user and payment bank sending payments risk data can also generate and receive payments-related notifications, inquiries, messages and reports via their respective host applications.
3. The method in claim 2 , wherein each third party and user can request and receive reports from a plurality of said payment banks acting on their behalf.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein each payment bank host application can generate a notification to the payment bank and user and/or third party in the event that a counterparty fails to make expected payments for a pre-determined period of elapsed time and detail payments which have failed to pass the filter process according to their transaction reference numbers.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each third party of user receiving notification of a counterparty payment failure may instruct payment bank to suspend further payments to said counterparty or instruct the overriding of the filter process to allow individual identified payments to proceed or allow payments to specified counterparties or intermediaries.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said filter process module within each said payment bank host application cooperates with payments processing with a domestic payment system operated by said payment bank, such that payments instructions are filtered by said filter process module for compliance with suspend instructions, override instructions and payment risk parameters.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each said payment bank host application capable of calculating the available balance for counterparty payments through incorporation of data interchange with existing payments confirmation services and monitoring elapsed time.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each payment bank host application automatically incorporates a suspension of all further payments to a counterparty on receipt of a notification to do so via implementation as a trigger in the filter process module and incorporates overrides as instructed.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each payment bank and user are subjected to digital certification to establish their access authority and usage constraints, and wherein data transmissions are encrypted for security purposes.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein third party, user and payment bank host applications are human-accessible by a browser interface and machine-accessible by incorporation and translation of electronic data interchange (EDI) formats.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein third parties and users can flexibly identify counterparties by means of aggregating identifiers unique to individual corporate or organizational entities, thereby creating synthetic counterparties composed of entities deemed to share correlation in payment risk assessment.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a core system host application for recording various type of information, including identification of said users, identification of said third parties, identification of said payment banks, identification of said counterparties, identification of currencies, specification of the clean payment limit (debit cap), any override instructions, and payment type identification, including alternative payment channels, if any.
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March 31, 2004
May 19, 2009
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